RIBEX 2008.. A great Success
With both national and regional TV and radio press coverage broadcasting news about the event, some 5100 people came to Cowes on the Isle of Wight to the Suzuki sponsored RIBEX 2008 and experienced the world’s specialist show dedicated entirely to the RIB market. The three day show was blessed with glorious sunshine which added to the festival atmosphere which saw hundreds of visiting craft coming to the show by sea.

Over 60 RIBs were being exhibited within the event marina itself – all available for sea trialling. Amongst them there were at least a dozen models afloat making their world debut. These included the mighty Suzuki 300hp quadruple outboard-powered 13m metre Austech RIB, Avon’s new 8.50 Adventure, the competitively priced 8m Capelli Tempest Cabin RIB from Italy, the luxurious Arctic Blue 37 Cabin RIB from Norway, the new 10m cabin RIB ‘Sting’ from Scorpion, and the very first fly-bridge 11m Cabin RIB from Ireland’s premier boat builder, Redbay Boats.

At one point on the Saturday afternoon of the show, the pontoons were becoming so full with people that the organisers were at the point of restricting access to the marina in order to limit the numbers of people wanting to board the vessels on display. Ashore, within the tented village, BRP were celebrating their 100th birthday and the invention of the outboard by Mr Evinrude himself! The company’s huge artic display truck was adorned with the very latest in all-terrain vehicles, jet skis, RIBs and outboards.

In addition, Yamaha, Honda, Cummins and Suzuki were all displaying a superb line-up of motors that represent the very latest in outboard and inboard marine power. Several engines were making their very first debut on the water for the public to trial.

Chandlery, specialist equipment, clothing, helmets, marine cameras, electronics of every sort as well as special landside exhibits such as the new Osprey Cabin RIB and the Bladerunner 37 from Ice Marine, as well as a selection of special starter boat/entry level RIB exhibits, made a packed and colourful tented RIBEX village. Daily prizes sponsored by the generous support of companies such as Icom UK, Marine AV and Fusion proved a big hit with the visiting public also, as did the special, ‘goodie bags’ loaded with freebies for all the visiting skippers who came to the show in their own RIBs.

According to the exhibitor testimonials, the degree of sales and business done at RIBEX 2008 was truly outstanding. Without exception everyone furthered their business and made sales which resulted in a unanimous decision on the part of all the companies exhibiting at this year’s show to keep the show in Cowes as a permanent 2nd weekend in May fixture for all forthcoming years. So, next years show dates are confirmed as Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2008 at Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight.

View the Photo Gallery for our pictures from the show.

May 2008